My hearts desire is to own a finely engraved rifle. Ben Shostle from Indiana was a "heavy engraved" specialist. He rivaled the Nimscheke family. His daughter scrimshawed a nice powder horn for me when I was 11yrs old. I appreciate the talent and skill. I might have wasted the effort on a Ruger 10-22...but it is the owner and not the onlooker who really matters. I think it takes a lot of courage to carve up a nice rifle, and I think it will add memories to someone who will inherit it. I have a butt-ugly sporterized M1917 Enfield. It is about 10-1/2 lbs of the ugliest tent stake you can imagine. The stock has such meticulous work (still hideous), and I can only imagine the time involved for someone to fit a new barrel and make this thing extra ugly. "A" for effort. C-- for results on my rig. The thing shoots like a dream with a rare RA Litschert scope. Good for someone trying their best. We all fall short from time to time.
